“There are so many toys that are recalled every year. There’s probably 340 total recalls, and a good portion of those are toys, so I would say if you’re buying toys at a garage sale, do a little bit of research,” said Debbie Cooper, Environmental Specialist with the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Officials are simply asking that you go to sales prepared.

“I can’t say that if you buy dishes that they’re all going to be safe because some dishes have been recalled because of lead paint or something. I don’t really know if there’s anything I would say is totally safe, because like I said, there are so many products that are recalled every single year,” Cooper said.

She said it may be cheaper to buy kid’s clothes at a garage sale, but make sure you are getting ones without drawstrings because they can be a big choking hazard.

She said there are some good websites to check before heading out to a sale, or to simply subscribe to for updates on recalls.